What Are the Causes of Flatulation?

Flatulation also known as flatulence or, simply, a fart is defined as a phenomenon of ejecting out excessive air present in the body through the buttocks in individuals. The gas that is ejected out is most commonly a mixture of various gases which are by-products of the digested food. This phenomenon is mostly seen in mammals including humans. Various odorless gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide), nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and methane are the most important and prime constituents of the gas ejected out -- also known as flatus. However, the pungent smell which is often associated with a fart is caused due to the presence of certain low molecular mass compounds of sulphur such as H2S (hydrogen sulphide).

Causes of Flatulation

• Numerous causes and risk factors like indigestion of food, swallowing of air, intolerance towards certain food items among others are often associated with the process of flatulation. Some of the most common causes are elucidated and discussed at length below.

Swallowing of Air

• Swallowing of air is one of the common causes that often leads to flatulation in individuals. Individuals often swallow air while eating, talking and drinking. Most of the swallowed air is used up in the various metabolic processes in the body. However, a partial quantity of this air reaches the lower portion of the digestive tract of an individual, from where it is ultimately ejected out in the form of a fart.

Breakdown of Undigested Food

• Breakdown of undigested food is another common cause of flatulence in humans. Sometimes, because of the lack or absence of enzymes, certain portions of the food remain undigested. These undigested forms of food reach the intestine wherein it gets converted into gas, and is then ultimately ejected out of the body by the process of flatulation.

Food Intolerance

• Some individuals often show intolerance towards certain food items like milk and other dairy products. The most common cause for such intolerance is the inability of the body to break down sugars like lactose, hence leading to the development of excessive amounts of gas inside the body which is then ultimately ejected out from the body in the form of a fart.
  Some individuals often show similar intolerance towards a protein present in wheats like gluten.

Artificial Additives

• Often individuals show intolerance towards the digestion of certain synthetic additives like sorbitol and mannitol which are major components of sugar-free products. However, due to the incomplete breakdown and digestion of these additives, excessive gas is produced inside the body of individuals which is thus ejected out of the body as fart.